Homogenizer



Nov 2, A. M. KINNEY ETAL HOMOGENIZER Filed Jan. 12, 1944 y find/cw Mderyens Patented No 2, 1948 rFicE HOMOGENIZER Aldon M. Kinney and Andrew N. J ergens,

Cincinnati, Ohio Application January 12, 1944, Serial No. 517,930

Our invention relates to a device for refining the particles of a mixture of heterogeneous materials, by crushing them, forcin them through minute passages and simultaneously vibrating them rapidly to make the mixture into a homogeneous mass.

The mixture may be in semiplastic or liquid form, which is forced between mutually reciprocating compressor elements to disperse them into a homogeneous state.

An object of the invention is to provide a highly eflicient homogenizing machine which in operation depends upon the reactive characteristics of opposed springs having adjacent coil surfaces which compress and work the material which is passed therebetween.

It is another object of the invention to provide a machine which subjects a heterogeneous material to a succession of compressing and working operations performed by the alternate and simultaneous action and reaction of opposed springs provided with mutually reciprocating compressor elements.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine in which homogenization is obtained by passing material between the flat coil surfaces of a cylindrical spiral spring which is alternately compressed and released by a suitable reciprocating means. g

A still further object of the invention is to provide an homogenizing machine which may be readily disassembled for cleaning purposes and which has a novel and simplified adjustment means for exteriorly controlling the operative spacing between mutually reciprocating compressor elements positioned interiorly of the machine.

Other objects will be apparent from thefollowing specification and drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of our invention, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a central cross-sectional view of our 16 Claims. (Cl. 259-4) homogenizer, parts thereof being shown in elevai 'an upper cap-section l. The base-section is provided along its upper opposed edges with longitudinally extending flanges 8 and 9 which engage cooperating flanges l0 and II respectively, formed on the adjacent longitudinal edges of the upper section 1. A series of bolts l2 and I3 (Fig. 2)

secure flanges 8, l0 and 9, II respectively along their entire longitudinal distances. The base section has a flanged neck I l, formed integrally thereon for suitable connection with a supply pipe indicated by the numeral l5.

Heterogeneous material is introduced by this supply pipe .to the elongated homogenizing chamber l6 through a passage-way |l formed in the neck [4, and the completely homogenized material leaves said chamber through an arcuate passage l8 formed by the casing parts. A pipe l9 carries said homogenized material to a suitable hopper (not shown).

Two opposedsets of compressor elements are positionedin longitudinal alignment within the casing in spaced relation from the interior 'wall thereof, and as illustrated in the drawings each set takes the form of a cylindrical spiral spring 20 and 2|. The strand which forms each of these springs is rectangular in cross-section to provide a number of adjacent flat workingsurfaces between which the material to be homogenized passes during the operation of the device.

The springs are mounted in axial alignment within the casing in slightly compressed condition. the outer coil 22 of spring 20, being held in a fixed, centrally disposed position by means of a filler-ring 23, keyed to the end wall of the casing by a semi-circular flange 2L The outer coil 25 of spring 2| abuts against a filler rin 26 fixed against rotation on the opposite casing end wall by a flange 21. y

The inner coil of. spring 20 abuts against a collar 28 which has integrally formed thereon a hollow conically-shaped deflector 29. The collar 28 is provided with a centrally threaded bore 30 for receiving exterior left-hand threads formed on an adjusting plug 3|. This adjusting plug is also provided with exterior right-hand threads 32, which cooperate with interior threads formed centrally through a collar 33 which engages the inner coil of spring 2|. This collar is provided with an integral hollow deflector portion which takes the form of a frustrum of a cone.

A collar retaining ring 330 is positioned between the threaded collars 28 and 33 and is provided with opposed sleeves 34 and 35 for freely receiving the collars 28 and 33 respectively. This retaining ring is adjustably fixed to the plug 3| by means of a set screw 36 threaded in a radial bore formed in said ring, and provided with a reduced end portion 31, which is received in selectively positioned radial bores 38 formed in said plug 3|. A pin 39 is freely received in aligned holes formed in the retaining ring 330 and the two opposed collars 28 and 33 for precluding rotational movement between the collars and the ring.

An operating rod is journaled for rectilinear reciprocating movement between the casing parts by means of a split bushing 4 i, said bushing having two peripheral shoulder portions 42 formed thereon for precluding axial movement thereof when said rod is in operation. Suitable packing I3 is provided between said bushing and a transverse shoulder formed by the casing sections.

The operating rod is provided with a reduced end portion 45 which extends through an axial bore formed in the adjusting plug, the extremity of said reduced portion being threaded to cooperate witha bolt 46 for fastening said plug to the rod. The plug is precluded from rotational movement on the rod by means of key 41 positioned in aligned key-ways formed in the plug and the rod.

As illustrated in Fig. 8, the operating rod 40 is preferably reciprocated by means of an eccentric cam arrangement which comprises a fly-wheel l8 fixed concentrically on a. suitably journaled drive 'rod 49. Eccentric plate 50 is adjustably fastened to the outer face of the fly wheel by suitable bolts 5i', said plate having a suitableeccentric bearing 52 fastened thereto for engaging a connecting rod 53. The free end of the connecting rod engages a wrist pin 54 positioned between a two-sectioned coupling 55. This coupling is provided with an interiorly threaded split sleeve for receiving the threaded end of the shaft 40, a nut 55 being provided to lock the shaft All in any rotational position relative to the coupling.

It will therefore be noted that the rectilinear reciprocation of the shaft 48 alternately and simultaneously compresses and releases from compression the two opposed springs 20 and 2|. Under compression the width of the spaces between the flat working v urfaces of the spring spirals are reduced to zero and in normal released condition said spaces increase to a width of approximately $4; of an inch. The coil spacing may be varied from the foregoing dimensions, to condition our homogenizer for operation upon heterogeneous material of varying consistencies by unbolting the casing cap-section 1 from the base section 6, removing the set screw 36 between the retaining ring 330 and the plug 3i, placing a suitable spanner wrench in a hole 5'! formed in the operating rod and rotating said rod relative to the coupling. This rota-tion imparts a rotary movement to the right-hand and left-hand threaded plug 3|, which in turn moves the collars 28 and 33 rectilinearly relative to the axial centers of said rod and the springs.

The limits of motion of the reciprocating shaft may be varied for any desired coil spacing by adjusting the throw of the eccentric plate. This adjustment may be obtained by removing the bolts 5| and rotating the eccentric plate 50 so that the semicircular bolt holes formed in the plate are aligned with any suitable opposed holes formed in the fly wheel, and then inserting and tightening the bolts in said aligned holes.

In operation heterogeneous, semiplastic material, or certain liquids are introduced under pressure to the central area of the homogenizing chamber it which is surrounded by-the coiled spring 20, through suitable supply pipe' i5 and the passage i'l. This material upon entering the central area of the chamber is deflected by the" deflector cone 29 and passes between the spaces formed by the flat faces of the spiral spring 20. The operating rod imparts to the coils of the opposed springs an axial and mutually reciprocating movement so that material passing between said. coils is repeatedly compressed and worked. The material, after leaving th .spring 20 passes through the space formed by the interior wall of the chamber and the collar retaining ring 330, and thereupon is introduced into the spaces between the reciprocating coils of spring 2|. Here again the material is repeatedly compressed and worked and thereupon passes into the central area of the chamber surrounded by said spring 2i, and thence to a suitable hopper through passage-way l8 and pipe I9.

The reciprocating movement of the rod createsa compressive force to one ofthe springs, and simultaneously imparts an expansive movement to the opposed spring, and it will therefore be noted that the expansive energy of one spring aids the operating rod in compressing said opposed spring, and thus creates an emcient means of compressing and working the material passing between the coils of said springs.

What is claimed is:

1. In an homogenizer the combination of a plurality of spaced compressor elements, means for forcing material between the elements, and means for mutually reciprocating said elements.

2. A refining and homogenizing device comprising a plurality of spaced compressor elements, means for mutually reciprocating the elements toward and away from each other, and means for forcing a, heterogeneous mixture of particles between the compressor elements to crush and disperse the particles into a homogeneous mass.

3. In an homogenizer the combination of a plurality of flat compressor elements, means for mounting said elements in operative spaced relation, means for moving material between the elements, and means for mutually reciprocating said elements.

4. In an homogenizer the combination of a casing, a spring mounted within the casing, said spring having adjacently positioned, flat compressor faces, a, reciprocating member, and means means operatively associating the member with the spring for imparting mutual reciprocating movement to the compressor faces of the spring.

5. A refining and homogenizing device comprising a spring having adjacently positioned, flat compressor faces, means for uniformly reciprocating the compressor faces toward and away from each other, and means for forcing a heterogeneous mixture of particles between the compressor faces to crush and dispersethe particles into a homogeneous mass.

6. In an homogenizer the combination of two sets of opposed compressor elements, means for mounting the elements of each set in operative spaced relation, means for moving material between the elements of each set, and a single means for imparting mutually alternate and simultaneous reciprocating movement to all the elements of each set.

7. In an homogenizer the combination of a casing, opposed springs mounted within the casing, each spring having adjacently positioned, flat compressor surfaces, a reciprocating member,

and means operatively associating the reciprocating member with one side of each spring.

8. In a homogenizer the combination of a casing, opposed, spirally formed, cylindrical springs mounted within the casing, said springs having adjacently positioned, fiat compressor surfaces, a reciprocating member, and means operatively associating the reciprocating member with the adjacent ends of each spring.

. from the interior wall thereof, a reciprocating member, means associating the member with the inner adjacent ends-of the springs, and pressure means for moving material successively between the coils of each spring.

11. In an homogenizer the combination of a chamber, cylindrical spiral springs mounted in axial alignment within the chamber, said springs 'having flat transverse compressor faces, a reciprocating shaft extending into the chamber, means for operatively connecting the inner adjacent ends of the springs to the shaft, and means for successively moving material under pressure between the coils of each spring.

I 12. 'In an homogenizer the combination of a chamber having inlet and outlet passages, cylindrical spiral springs mounted in axial alignment within the chamber, the coils of said springs having flat, transverse compressor faces, means for anchoring the outer end coils of the springs around the inlet and outlet passages, a reciprocating shaft extending into the chamber, means for operatively connecting the inner adjacent ends of the springs to the shaft, and means for successively forcing heterogeneous material between the spring coils by moving it from the center of one spring to the chamber and then from the chamber to the center of the opposed spring.

13. In an homogenizer the combination of an elongated, cylindrical casing, an inlet passage and an outlet passage formed in opposite end walls of the casing and disposed in longitudinal alignment, cylindrical spiral springs mounted in axial alignment within the casing, the coils of said springs being spaced from the casing and provided with flat, transverse compressor faces, means for anchoring the outer end coil of each spring concentrically around the inlet passage and the outlet passage, an operating shaft mounted for rectilinear movement within the easing and disposed coaxially with the springs, means for connecting the inner end of the shaft with the central adjacent coils of the opposed springs, means exteriorly of the casing for reciprocating the shaft, and means for successively forcing material between the coils of each spring.

14. In an homogenizer the combination of an elongated cylindrical casing, an inlet passage and an outlet passage formed in opposite end walls of the casing and disposed in longitudinal alignment, cylindrical spiral springs mounted in axial alignment within the casing, the coils of 'said springs being spaced from the casing and provided with flat, transverse compressor faces,

:means for anchoring the outer end coil of each spring concentrically around the inlet passage and the outlet passage, a collar engaging the inner coil of the springs, a retaining ring between the collars, an adjusting plug oppositely threaded to each of the collars, an operating shaft mounted for rectilinear movement within the casing and disposed coaxially with the spring, means for fixing the end of the shaft to the plug, reciprocating means disposed exteriorly of the casing, ad

justable means for connecting the shaft to the reciprocating means, and means for successively forcing heterogeneous material between the spring coils by moving it from the center of one spring'to the casing and then from the said casing to the center of the opposed spring.

' 15. In an homogenizer the combination of an elastic body having opposed and continuous compressor elements disposed in spaced relationship, means for passing material between the elements, and reciprocating means for compressing and expanding the body.

16. In an homogenizer the combination of an elastic body having opposed, integral compressor elements disposed in longitudinal, spaced relationship, means for passing material between the elements, and a reciprocating mechanism engaging one end of the body and adapted to move the elements in common phase directions, the magnitude of the movement of each element suc-= cessively decreasing outwardly. from the body engagement with the mechanism.

ALDON M. KINNEY. ANDREW N. JERGENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 105,670 Groux July 26, 1870 207,085 Tise et al Aug. 13, 1878 1,152,137 Stackhouse Aug. 31, 1915 1,891,165 Knupifer Dec. 13, 1932 2,088,591 Ferkel Aug. 3, 1937 2,138,051 Williams Nov. 29, 1938 2,138,839 Chambers Dec. 6, 1938 2,170,178 Williams Aug. 22, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 176,438 Switzerland Apr. 15, 1935 

